should i talk about firearms during office visit/interview?
- Thread starter shooterfromtexas
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ZO6Vettever
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No, period!
DSAPT9
Member
Well to start with the answer is no, don’t ask and don’t tell and here is my reasoning. I work for a manufacturing company that shortly after I was hired and every year after we have violence in the work place training. It covers various issues like how to work well with others, conflict resolution and possible stress signs to look for in people that might be on the edge. They teach that the First sign is fascination with firearms (mainly military type weapons), second is excessive talking about firearms and third is talking about violent actions.
So now like I said shortly after I was hired I went through this class I was scared to death I was in a loony bin. I have been into firearms for 30 years, taught hunter safety and work in a sporting goods shop on the weekends in the firearms department every hunting season. I have pictures of firearms on my cell phones so does this make me a person on the edge of going nuts. Now that I have been there 2 years I find that all most every body hunts and even one of the folks in HR shoots IDPA. These people did not volunteer this information easily but several new me from the firearms counter and a number of their kids had me as their Hunters ED instructor so they felt safe to talk about the subject. But after 2 years I am still very careful about what I say and to whom.
So now like I said shortly after I was hired I went through this class I was scared to death I was in a loony bin. I have been into firearms for 30 years, taught hunter safety and work in a sporting goods shop on the weekends in the firearms department every hunting season. I have pictures of firearms on my cell phones so does this make me a person on the edge of going nuts. Now that I have been there 2 years I find that all most every body hunts and even one of the folks in HR shoots IDPA. These people did not volunteer this information easily but several new me from the firearms counter and a number of their kids had me as their Hunters ED instructor so they felt safe to talk about the subject. But after 2 years I am still very careful about what I say and to whom.
in my experience, I brought it up QUIETLY to my superiors as a hobby. Some like golf, others like goin to the range. They had no problem with it, even said it was fun too!
Just depends on how cool you are with your bosses. I brought it up by saying my dad took me one day and it was really cool and I enjoyed it. I mean, honestly your hobbies on your off time are your hobbies. Keep them personal unless someone brings it up, then give a little and see how it goes.
Just depends on how cool you are with your bosses. I brought it up by saying my dad took me one day and it was really cool and I enjoyed it. I mean, honestly your hobbies on your off time are your hobbies. Keep them personal unless someone brings it up, then give a little and see how it goes.
RoostRider
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Would you talk about your views on abortion at this 'office visit'?
Then why would you discuss your views on guns?
They both have a lot of angles and a lot of differing and sometimes vehemently supported ideals.... no sense touching on that ground....
Of course it's easy to start a conversation about guns at a gun show... you know where the other guy stands on the issue.... and even if you're wrong, what have you got to loose.... here, you could loose your chance to intern where you want to...
Then why would you discuss your views on guns?
They both have a lot of angles and a lot of differing and sometimes vehemently supported ideals.... no sense touching on that ground....
Of course it's easy to start a conversation about guns at a gun show... you know where the other guy stands on the issue.... and even if you're wrong, what have you got to loose.... here, you could loose your chance to intern where you want to...
Ahh-Yeah, I have a little experience hiring at an executive level and even though I am avid about my rights, firearms, religion,and government. The interview is not the place for this.
You need to be responsive to the interviewer and follow the topics of conversation, but even if outside interests are brought up such as "what are your favorite hobbies", talk about guns should be zealously avoided.
This is your career, and I am surprised that you have gotten as far as you seemed to have and have to ask a question like this.
If you are truly serious about your career I would strongly suggest that you visit a private search headhunter, buy him lunch, and get some insight on resumes and job interviews.
You need to be responsive to the interviewer and follow the topics of conversation, but even if outside interests are brought up such as "what are your favorite hobbies", talk about guns should be zealously avoided.
This is your career, and I am surprised that you have gotten as far as you seemed to have and have to ask a question like this.
If you are truly serious about your career I would strongly suggest that you visit a private search headhunter, buy him lunch, and get some insight on resumes and job interviews.
stubbicatt
Member
Never ever tell the cops anything you don't have to. It all gets written into a report and digested by the collective consciousness of the department to come out the other end coated with suspicion and malignant intent.
Never, ever, tell a cop about guns. They, in their deepest recesses, believe that only they should be armed. Only they are the law.
Smile and nod and say nothing. Cops are NOT repeat NOT your friends. Ever.
My $.02
Never, ever, tell a cop about guns. They, in their deepest recesses, believe that only they should be armed. Only they are the law.
Smile and nod and say nothing. Cops are NOT repeat NOT your friends. Ever.
My $.02
Jorg Nysgerrig
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I'm a little confused. Are there a lot of cops conducting acccounting interviews during office visits looking for prospective acccounting interns at acccounting firms in Colorado or did you just randomly want to rant about cops?
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Sorry about your bitter feelings towards cops but as a former Colorado State Trooper you could not be more wrong, but then again I can only speak to me and my former department.
And as far as an interview goes I would not offer up any information that was not pertinent to the questions at hand. The only time I talked about my firearms was during an interview to work at a sporting goods store at the firearms counter.
For an internship, I think you want to express a real interesting working as an accountant, and in seeing an accounting firm from the inside. In today's world, and by that I mean the last 25 years, you don't want to emphasize anything that would get in the way of working 18 hours a day.
CoRoMo
Member
I wouldn't. I know a guy that was fired from his job because he is a gun owner.
Remember...
You are a guilty criminal, so start acting like it.
Remember...
You are a guilty criminal, so start acting like it.
Focus on the work that you want to do, keep discussions relevant. Don't waste anyone's time by going off-subject. You are trying to make a positive impression because that is all you have as a college graduate.
I am a Director in a technology company. Pretty much everyone knows I'm a gun fancier, but, if I was interviewing you and you brought-up the subject of firearms unsolicited, I would immediately cross you off my list.
If you don't realize the need to be discrete at times, it isn't my job to teach it to you. Willingness to share "too much" is a weakness in my eyes and a liability to the company (technology, accounting, whatever -if you can't keep your mouth shut, you are only a liability.) Plenty of "fish" in the sea to choose from.
I am a Director in a technology company. Pretty much everyone knows I'm a gun fancier, but, if I was interviewing you and you brought-up the subject of firearms unsolicited, I would immediately cross you off my list.
If you don't realize the need to be discrete at times, it isn't my job to teach it to you. Willingness to share "too much" is a weakness in my eyes and a liability to the company (technology, accounting, whatever -if you can't keep your mouth shut, you are only a liability.) Plenty of "fish" in the sea to choose from.
flyerI
Member
It seems most all are on the same page here. I would not bring it up and if I was asked directly if I owned a gun I would simply reply "yes" and then follow with a proper question about the company or the position. If other questions followed I would downplay it. "I have an old gun my dad gave me" or "I like to hunt once in a while." Something such as that. If I don't get a job because of that, then so be it. I would not lie to get a job. I seriously doubt it will ever come up unless you bring it up. Remember, Don't wear camo or a mall ninja suit to the interview.
mg.mikael
Member
Just remeber to answer the questions truthfully and to the best of your ability. That means using good proper grammer, not slang like "cool" or "wicked." Not to mention, dress to impress. Even if their isn't a specific dress code, still wear a nice suit, it shows you have high respect for yourself. Not tattered jeans and a muscle shirt, that just shows your full of it.
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